Attachment for lawn mowers



oct. 18, 1949. 'D R, POWELL 2,485,312Y

ATTACHMENT FOR LAWN MOWERS Filed Aug. '11, 1947 NVENTOR David R. PowelL ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 18, 1949 UNI'IT'ED?l ES PAT ENT OFFICE ATTACHMENTFOR LAWN MOWERS David R.' Powell, Euclid, Ghio Application Augustll, 1947;. Serial No. I768,056

7 Gla-ims.r (Cl. 56-249) MyA inventi'fmv relates to attachments for law-n mowers and more particularly to an attachment for preventing themower'llirom'tilting' when one of thelwheels of the'l mower extends beyond the edge of the lawn.

In mowing lawns'in'whicr a recessed` walk or flower bed lies adjacent tocan edge effthe-r lawn, diiiicul-tyisencountered-inf mowingV the edges of the lawn with commercial lawn mowers of the present type because' whenf one ci the wheels of the mower extendsoverf any edge of'thelawnV and ridesin the recess, the-'cutterfdigs inta the lawn. It vhas accordinglybeen the practice-to- -maw the lawn as close to the edge asrpracticable andf then trim thev edge: a1. hand toer; such as clip.- pers;v The usev or:clippers, however,- entailsl considerable labor whtlesattempts have heretofore beerrmade te. provide attachments: for lawn mowers which enable the mower'. to trimthe edges of therlawni adacent.recessedwalksmr f Afront of the mower-fer'when'th'e tiered isv axial with the wheel hnbsand the attachment vis ccnstructed in such -amar1rrer that it will'y not'inter'- iere with the operation of the cutter, irrespective of the position of the tiered;

My invention will be betterunderstood'bv reference to the accompanying-drawings inl which.:

Fig. I is afront elevatonalviewof a mower having its tie rod in alignment the -wheel hubsv and' a front'- view army` improved attachment with therollvshown in fullllines in one position and in dotted lines-in analternate posiion;

Fig. Z is a lcross sectional view'on the `line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing parts in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a detail View olmy improved attachment, showing parts insection, with thel roll shown in itsoperative: position'ifrr full -lines `and in a position' in which itis 'being adius-ted to an inoperative position dotted lines; and:

Fig'. 4 is a plan .view'on .the line 1?-4 fof Fig'. 3'.

While my improvedattachmeritl mayvhe applied to lawn mowers ci *any'desirecltyp a hand operated, side wheels driven.. type7- shown. in which the.: side wheelart arelicurmalled oma-tie 2. rod or axle 2'secured-to frames 3 and inl which the wheels are provided with interna-l gears to drive the cutter dthrouglfr pinions on' the' cutter shaft 5f. The side frames V3 also carry thehanrdle 6 and bearings' Tforthfe'back rel]V 85,'y and attached to the bearings is the fixed blade vSl-'asi-rx usual lawn mower construction.

ACCOTdin'g to my invention, I have provided an improved attachmentlforr lawn mowers com-- prising a pair-of'superimposed clamping bars' lill and H Vloy means offwhich my improved device may be secured tov the tierodf adjacent one Wheel and a suppcltingrod-IZ having.; itsldwer p'orti'orr hentl at right angles tothe mainportion of' the rod to Viorrn an .axle IdF/for' a .roll lllawhich engages thef ground when the attachment isi in its operative position..

Clamping bars: lill andiy II are similarin. cone struction and each is provided at one en'dwi'thta V-shaped recess which cooperateswith the recess in the other bar to' receivethe ltiey rod. of the mower and while' anyfsuitalclev means may be provided to firmly secure thei-clampingbarsyto the tie rod, asshown in the drawings;- a'bolt l5 extendingV through lower har H." has one end threaded. through an opening in bar Hl adjacent its recess andwhen bolt l5 isf tightened', the clamping4 bars are: securely: attached to1 the: tie rod. To maintain the clamping bars in. suhstam tially' parallel alignment; clampingl bar |10 is. provided at its end-.oppositetov the recess with an opening to: receive a threaded adjustablefstud I6 having a reducedportion whichhears against `the adjacent end: ot clamping har It;

By providing opposite A`V-shaped1 recesses atv the adjacent ends ofbars' l'fand' I t; itfwill be appar ent that the clampingfbars' Inayi'beY applied' to ti'e rods of dilierentdiarneters and that 'the metal forming the V-sh'ap'eclC recesses at thev endroi har Il)`r will engage the#tierod=at`points Il" an'cl'l and that the metalfforming thev V-sh'ape'd re"- cess at the Yadjacent erId cicl'amp'l lfwill engage thev tie rod. at pointslf andati B'y'my improved arrangement, it will also be noted that the clamp'- ing; bars extend. substantiallyushr with'` the outer arcuate surface of: the tie rofl4 and .consequently there is no.l danger of the cutting' v"lclacles striking the clamping'bars" even; though the clamping bars are attachedxtoatie rod that extends substantially axial tothe huh @tithe wheel to vferm the axle upon'. whichy the. wheels rotate. Although in the drawing the tie rod is shown arranged axial toA the wheels, it Willf of coursebe understood' that my improved attachmentfmay be secured to the tie rod of lawnl mowers. of .the type in .which the tie rod is connected to opposite frames of the mower and is arranged adjacent the front of the mower.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the clamping bar is attached to the tie rod adjacent one of the wheels I Iso that when the roll I4 engages the ground adjacent the edge of the lawn the wheel which would ordinarily ride in the recess 22 adjacent the edge of the lawn will be maintained in an elevated position, thus enabling the mower to out the grass at the edge of the lawn without digging into the lawn.

In accordance with my invention, means are provided to rmly hold the roll I4 in engagement with the ground when it is desired to mow the edge of the lawn and to maintain the roll out of engagement with the lawn when both wheels engage the lawn. For this purpose, each of the clamping bars is providedv with a longitudinally extending open slot 23 which slots are enlarged midway between their ends to form an opening 24 to receive a rod I2 and the lower bar II is provided with a transverse groove 25 arranged perpendicular to its longitudinally extending slot which receives a pin 26 extending through a transverse opening in rod I2, thus preventing upward and angular movement of roll I 4 relative to clamping bar II. When the roll is in its operative position, downward movement of the roll is prevented by the surface on which roll I4 rides and also by a thumb screw 21 which extends through clamping bar I and engages rod I2.

This arrangement also permits the roll to be elevated from the ground and maintained adjacent one of the side wheels of the mower during the usual operation of the mower when both wheels ride upon the lawn. To elevate roll I4, thumb screw 21 is loosened and rod I2 is lowered sufficiently to remove pin 26 from groove 25.

Rod I2 is then rotated through an arc of 90 to the dotted line positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4 at which time pin 26 is in alignment with the open slots 23 in clamping bars I0 and II, thus enabling rod I2 and roll I4 to be elevated from their lower positions. Rod I 2 is then rotated through an additional 90 arc to position roll I4 adjacent one of the wheels in which position it will not interfere with the usual operation of 'the mower.

To maintain roll I4 in its upper position, the upper clamping bar is also provided with a groove 28 arranged transversely to its open slot 23 and parallel to transverse groove in which pin 26 may be positioned, thus preventing downward and angular movement of rod I2 and roll I4. At this time, upward movement of rod I2 may be prevented by tightening thumb screw 21. In adjusting roll I4 from its operative to its inoperative positions, it will be noted that loosening and tightening of the thumb screw is substantially all the mechanical operation that is required and consequently my improved attachment may be easily adjusted by women, boys, or unskilled workmen.

To enable my improved attachment to be applied to lawn mowers of various types in which the distance from the tie rod from the ground may vary, rod I2 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 2D of equal sizes so that when the attachment is secured to a particular lawn mower, pin 26 may be positioned in the desired opening. Pin 25 and openings 29 are so constructed that pin 26 may be easily inserted in one of the openings 29. For instance, the openings 29 may be threaded to receive a threaded pin 2B,

or pin 26 may be slightly tapered at one or both ends so that it may be easily driven in and removed from one of the openings 29.

Roll I4 may be secured to axle I3 in any desired manner. As illustrated the wheel is interposed between washers 3D which are held in place by suitable means, such as cotter pins 3I extending through axle I3.

What I claim is:

1. In a lawn mower provided with a tie rod, an attachment for said lawn mower comprising a pair of horizontally disposed clamping bars arranged in superimposed relation and extending in the same direction from said tie rod, each of said bars having a recess therein adjacent one of its ends which recesses are arranged in opposed relation and which cooperate to receive said tie rod, means for adjustably forcing said clamping bars into engagement with said tie rod, each of said clamping bars having an opening intermediate its ends which is in alignment with the opening in the other clamping bar, an adjustable supporting rod extending through said aligned openings and having a roll at its lower end which roll engages the ground when said rod is in one position, and adjustable means extending through one of said clamping bars for engaging and holding said rod in each of its adjusted positions.

2. In a lawn mower provided with a tie rod, an attachment for said lawn mower comprising a pair of horizontally disposed clamping bars arranged in superimposed relation and extending in the same direction from said tie rod, each of said bars having a recess therein adjacent one of its ends which recesses are arranged in opposed relation and which cooperate to receive said tie rod, means arranged adjacent the opposed recesses for adjustably forcing said clamping bars into engagement with said tie rod, means extending through one of the clamping bars adjacent the end remote from said tie rod and engaging the other clamping bar for maintaining the free ends of said bars in spaced relation, each of said clamping bars having an opening intermediate its ends which is in alignment with the opening in the other clamping bar, an adjustable supporting rod extending through said aligned slots and having a roll at its lower end which roll engages the ground when said rod is in one position, and adjustable means extending through one of said clamping bars for engaging and holding said rod in each of its adjusted positions.

3. In a lawn mower provided with a tie rod and cutter blades, an attachment for said lawn mower comprising a pair of horizontally disposed clamping bars arranged in superimposed relation and extending in the same direction from said tie rod, each of said bars having a V-shaped recess adjacent one end which cooperates with the substantially V-shaped recess at the adjacent end of the opposite clamping bar to receive tie rods of different diameters, each of said recesses being so arranged in its respective clamping bar that the adjacent xed ends of said clamping bars terminate substantially ilush with a portion of said tie rod to permit the outer edges of the cutter blades of said mower to rotate adjacent to the tie rod without striking the ends of the clamping bars, adjustable means adjacent said recesses for forcing the clamping bars in engagement with said tie rod, adjustable means extending through one clamping bar adjacent its free end and engaging the other clamping bar for maintaining, Vthe Vfree .,ends, oi said clamping bars inv spaced relation to each other, each of said .clamping bars having anfopening intermediate its-ends which is-i-nalignment the opening in thev other` clampingV bar, an!" adjustable supporting rod extending through said aligned slots and havingaroll at'its lower end which roll engages the ground when said rod is in its-lower position, andadjustable means 'extending through one of' saidclamping bars for engaging and holding said rod in each of its adjusted positions.

4. In a lawn mower having a tie rod, an attachment for said lawn mower comprising a pair of longitudinally disposed clamping bars arranged in superimposed relation and extending in the same direction from said tie rod, each of said bars having a recess therein adjacent one of its ends which recesses are arranged in opposed relation and which cooperate to receive said tie rod, means for adjustably forcing said clamping bars into engagement with said tie r-od, each of said clamping bars having a longitudinally extending open slot intermediate its ends which is in alignment with the open slot in the other clamping bar and the lower clamping bar being provided on its exposed lower surface with a transverse groove arranged intermediate the ends of its longitudinally extending slot, an adjustable supporting rod extending through said aligned slots which rod is provided with a transverse opening, said supporting rod having a roll at its lower end which roll engages the ground when said rod is in its lower position, and means for preventing upward and angular displacement of said roll including a pin extending through the transverse opening in said rod and having its opposite ends resting in the transverse groove in the lower clamping bar.

5. In a lawn mower provided with a tie rod, an attachment for said lawn mower comprising a pair of horizontally disposed clamping bars arranged in superimposed relation and extending in the same direction from said tie rod, each of said bars having a recess therein adjacent one of its ends which recesses are arranged in opposed relation and which cooperate to receive said tie rod, each of said clamping bars having a longitudinally extending open slot intermediate its ends which is in alignment with the open slot in the other clamping bar and the lower clamping bar being provided on its exposed lower surface with a groove extending transversely of its longitudinally extending slot, a supporting rod extending through said aligned slots which rod is provided with a plurality of transverse openings, said rod having a roll at its lower end which roll engages the ground when said rod is in its lower position, and means for preventing upward and angular displacement of said roll including a pin extending through one of the transverse openings in said rod with its opposite ends resting in the transverse groove in the lower clamping bar, and the transverse opening in said supporting rod through which said pin is extended being dependent upon the distance of the tie rod of said mower from the ground.

6. In a lawn mower provided with a tie rod, an attachment for said lawn mower comprising a pair of horizontally disposed clamping .bars arranged in superimposed relation and extending in the same direction from said tie rod, each of said bars having a recess therein adjacent one of its ends which recesses are arranged in opposed relation and which cooperate to receive said tie rodil `means .fom iorcing said clamping`V bars into engagementV with said: rod; and each. :off said' clampingfb'arsbeing provided with a longitudinelly extending opens-lot an enlarged cenitralopening: arranged in, align-ment with the slot and opening in the other bar, said upper clampingabarbeingpprovided with a groove on its upper face extending transversely of its longitudinally extend-ingr slot andthe lower clamping bar beingprovided with. 2li-.groove onifitslowerifa'ce lwhich extends transversely to its longitudinally extending slot, an adjustable supporting rod extending through the central openings in said bars and being movable from higher to lower positions, said supporting rod being provided with a transverse opening, a roll attached to the lower end of said rod which engages the ground when said rod is in its lower position, means for preventing upward and angular displacement of said supporting rod and roll when the supporting rod is in its lower position including a pin extending through the transverse opening in said supporting rod with its opposite ends seated in the transverse groove in the lower clamping bar, said supporting rod being rotatable in the slots in said bars when the supporting rod is lowered sufficiently to remove said pin from the groove in the lower bar to align the longitudinal axis of said pin with the longitudinally extending slots in said bars, thereby permitting said rod and pin to be moved through the slots in said bars and said pin to be again turned and received in the transverse groove in the upper bar to maintain said roll out of engagement with the ground.

7. In a lawn mower provided with a tie rod, an attachment for said lawn mower comprising a pair of clamping bars arranged in superimposed relation and extending in the same direction from said tie rod, each of said bars having a recess therein adjacent one of its ends which recesses are arranged in opposed relation and cooperate to receive said tie rod, means for forcing said clamping bars into engagement with said rod and each of said clamping bars being provided With a longitudinally extending open slot having an enlarged vcentral opening which slot and central opening are arranged in alignment with the slot and the central opening in the other bar, said upper clamping bar being provided with a groove on its upper face extending transversely to its longitudinally extending groove and the lower clamping bar having a groove in its lower face which extends transversely to its longitudinally extending slot, an adjustable supporting rod extending through the aligned openings in said bars and being movable from higher to lower positions and having its lower end bent at an angle to its longitudinal axis which extends away from one of the wheels of said mower when the rod is in its lower position and said supporting rod being provided with an opening, a roll mounted on said angular portion which engages the ground when said supporting rod is in its lower position, means for preventing upward and angular displacement of said roll including a pin extending through the opening in said supporting rod with its opposite ends resting in the transverse groove in the lower clamping bar, said rod being rotatable through an arc of 90 when said pin is lowered out of position in the transverse groove in the lower bar to align said pin with the open longitudinally extending slot in said bars and being movable upwardly to a position in which said roll is elevated from the ground and in which posi- 2,485,312 7 8 tion it may Abe again rotated through an addi- UNIT TES TENT tional arc of 90 to position said ro11 toward one ED STA PA s of the Wheels of said mower and said pin in the Number Name Date transverse groove in the upper clamping bar to 365,553 Whlte June 23, 1337 prevent downward and angular movement of said 5 515,320 Brenner Feb- 27, 1394 1L 1,006,807 Tulane oct. 24, 1911 DAVID R PGWELL- FOREIGN PATENTS REFERENCES CITED Number Country Date The following references are of record in the 10 12367 Great Bmta'm June 9 1908 le of this patent: 

